New homes in place of super GP surgery frustrates Holbeach

Plans for 19 new homes on land originally meant for a new super GP surgery in Holbeach have led to frustration in the town.

An application to build homes on the site of a former builder’s yard in Church Street, Holbeach, have been put forward by Seagate Homes of Long Sutton.

But the development differs from initial plans for a doctor’s surgery and pharmacy on the site, proposed by Stamford developers Abbey Power Generation Ltd and agreed in principle by South Holland District Council in February 2015.

At the time, Abbey Power Generation described the planned surgery as “a sustainable, long-term location for primary care”, amid concerns about the site being close to the junction of Church Street, High Street, Boston Road South, Park Road and West End, Holbeach.

During a planning committee meeting in February 2015, Fleet district councillor Peter Coupland said: “I encourage the move to a single, modern medical centre for Holbeach and surrounding villages, with doctors’ services under one roof.

“But the site in Church Street is lacking in all these aspects.”

There is a clear, national need for housing affordable to all and, as such, this application makes good use of a vacant (former industrial) site within the centre of Holbeach

A spokesman for Seagate Homes, Long Sutton

The Lincolnshire Free Press approached Abbey Power Generation to find out why the doctor’s surgery plans had been shelved, but no one was available at the time of going to press.

Speaking about its plans, a spokesman for Seagate Homes said: “There is a clear, national need for housing affordable to all and, as such, this application makes good use of a vacant (former industrial) site within the centre of Holbeach.

Holbeach district councillor Francis Biggadike said: “The reality is that not all planning applications approved come to fruition and when it is something such as this then the public feel let down.”